Trip report: Northwest Argentina (December 2012) by Tropical Birding

Northwest Argentina is like nowhere else in that vast South American country. The Andes dominate the landscape, with peaks up to 21,000 feet (6,400 meters) towering over a countryside dotted with small, charming villages where the friendly inhabitants are still proud of their indigenous roots. Down in the valleys, vast savannas are carpeted will tall cacti, and some of the canyons make you feel like you are in the American Southwest. Some of the Argentina’s best wines are produced in this region, and almost every night we enjoyed great, inexpensive vintages. Our route covered all the habitats in the region including the wet yungas forest, montane scrub and puna, dry Chaco woodland, and monte desert. We saw a great variety of birds, and apart from heavy rain on one day, we had nice weather for almost the whole trip.